Arkansas Tech University will activate an emergency early warning text messaging system today as an additional means of communicating with the campus community during emergency situations on the Russellville campus.

Students who register for the service will receive a text message warning in the case of a serious campus emergency.

Steve Lawrence, director of public safety, said the text messaging system will not replace traditional means of informing students of an emergency, it will simply add to it.

"It's certainly not going to be the last step we take, and it's not our first," Lawrence said. "We have emergency operation procedures in place that incorporate e-mail, phone, local and campus radio stations and television. This is just another means of trying to do the most diligent job we can of being prepared for something should it happen."

In the months after the Virginia Tech shootings, colleges began looking for better ways to alert students of campus emergencies.

"The Virginia Tech incident is something that is impacting a lot of colleges around the country," Lawrence said. "Colleges are taking a look at what they do and are trying to be as ready as they can be for an emergency."

Dr. Gary Biller, vice president for student services, said Tech chose to implement the system because of the available technology and regular texting of many students.

"We were looking for another addition to what already exists in terms of emergency notification," Biller said. "Current technology supports this kind of texting, and that's what our students are using today."

A group of Tech staff members successfully tested the system Oct. 3. Susie Nicholson, assistant to the president for university relations, said signing up for the system should be easy for students.

"Our students are experts at text messaging," Nicholson said. "None of our administrators had a problem getting signed up, so it should be a breeze for students."

Biller said the system will not be used for general campus notifications.

"It's not something that will be used for events or announcements," he said. "We have it for emergency events, and hopefully it's a system we will never have to use."

Signing up for the system is optional, but strongly encouraged.

"The more students who sign up for the system, the more effective our communication will be," Biller said. "I encourage all students, faculty, staff and anyone who is concerned about our safety on campus to register with the system."

To sign up for the service, send the word "TECH" to the number 50618. Leave the subject line blank. After the message is sent, the sender should receive a confirmation message.

Plans are being made to also implement an emergency early warning text messaging system at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus.